Focus: Allergic Diseases and Type II Immunity: Intricate Relationship Between Adaptive and Innate Immune System in Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a complex immunological allergic disease characterized by the interplay between the innate and adaptive immune system. Initially, the role of the innate immune system was believed to be confined to the initial sensitization phase, while adaptive immune reactions were linked with the advanced elicitation phase. However, recent data predicted a comparatively mixed and interdependent role of both immune systems throughout the disease progression. Therefore, the actual mechanisms of disease progression are more complex and interlinked. The aim of this review is to combine such findings that enhanced our understanding of the pathomechanisms of ACD. Here, we focused on the main cell types from both immune domains, which are involved in ACD, such as CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, B cells, neutrophils, and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). Such insights can be useful for devising future therapeutic interventions for ACD.     

Silkworm dropping extract ameliorate trimellitic anhydride-induced allergic contact dermatitis by regulating Th1/Th2 immune response

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is an inflammatory skin disease caused by hapten-specific immune response. Silkworm droppings are known to exert beneficial effects during the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Here, we studied whether topical treatment and oral administration of silkworm dropping extract (SDE) ameliorate trimellitic anhydride (TMA)-induced ACD. In ACD mice model, SDE treatment significantly suppressed the increase in both ear thickness and serum IgE levels. Furthermore, IL-1β and TNF-α levels were reduced by SDE. In allergic responses, SDE treatment significantly attenuated the production of the Th2-associated cytokine IL-4 in both ear tissue and draining lymph nodes. However, it increased the production of the Th1-mediated cytokine IL-12. Thus, these results showed that SDE attenuated TMA-induced ACD symptoms through regulation of Th1/Th2 immune response. Taken together, we suggest that SDE treatment might be a potential agent in the prevention or therapy of Th2-mediated inflammatory skin diseases such as ACD and atopic dermatitis.

Abbreviations: ACD: allergic contact dermatitis; AD: atopic dermatitis; APC: antigen presenting cells; CCL: chemokine (C-C motif) ligand; CCR: C-C chemokine receptor; Dex: dexamethasone; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; IFN: interferon; Ig: immunoglobulin; IL: interleukin; OVA: ovalbumin; PS: prednisolone; SDE: silkworm dropping extract; Th: T helper; TMA: trimellitic anhydride; TNF: tumor necrosis factor     

Evaluation and Potential Health Hazard of Selected Metals in Water,Sediments, and Fish from the Gomti River

The health hazard associated with the consumption of fish from the Gomti River in India, contaminated with the heavy metals Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn was assessed in terms of target hazard quotients (THQs). The concentrations of metals (mg kg^?1, wet weight basis) in the muscle tissues of different fish species Mastacembelus puncalus, Clupisona garua, Cyrinous carpio, Botia lochachata, Channa punctatus, Heteropneustise fossilis, Puntius sofore, and Clarious batrachus ranged as follows: Cr (2.2–21.4), Cu (0.3–14.3), Mn (2.3–5.5), Ni (0.5–10.9), Pb (1.0–3.9), and Zn (12.3–46.9). The accumulation of metals in fish muscle tissue was in the order: Zn > Cr > Ni > Mn > Cu > Pb. THQs indicated a potential health hazard to children due to the consumption of fish contaminated with Ni and Pb; their THQs were greater than 1 for almost all fish species except for Ni in C. garua (THQ, 0.07) and C. carpio (THQ, 0.90). For adults, insignificant health hazard was associated with THQs less than 1 for all metals in the different fish species, but long-term exposure to these metals and subsequent bioaccumulation in the body may require additional investigation.     

Neutral endopeptidase terminates substance P-induced inflammation in allergic contact dermatitis

Sensory nerve-derived neuropeptides such as substance P demonstrate a number of proinflammatory bioactivities, but less is known about their role in inflammatory skin disease. The cell surface metalloprotease neutral endopeptidase (NEP) is the principal proteolytic substance P-degrading enzyme. This study tests the hypothesis that the absence of NEP results in dysregulated inflammatory skin responses. The effector phase of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) responses was examined in NEP(-/-) knockout and NEP(+/+) wild-type mice and compared with the irritant contact dermatitis response in these animals. NEP was found to be normally immunolocalized in epidermal keratinocytes and dermal blood vessels. The ACD ear swelling response was 2.5-fold higher in animals lacking NEP and was accompanied by a significant increase in plasma extravasation and infiltration of inflammatory leukocytes. The augmented ACD response in NEP(-/-) animals was abrogated by either administration of a neurokinin receptor 1 antagonist or by repeated pretreatment with topical capsaicin. Similar to NEP(-/-) mice, the acute inhibition of NEP in NEP(+/+) animals resulted in an augmented ACD response. In contrast to the ACD responses, little differences were observed in the irritant contact dermatitis response of NEP(-/-) compared with NEP(+/+) animals after epicutaneous application of the skin irritants croton oil or SDS. Thus, these results indicate that NEP and cutaneous neuropeptides have a significant role in the pathogenesis of ACD.     

行道树毛白杨树干中重金属元素分布

采用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法(ICP),测定分析首都机场高速公路旁毛白杨(Populus tomentosa Carr.)树干中Pb、Cd、Cr、Cu、Zn、Ni和Mn 7种重金属元素的含量及积累量,比较分析树干不同组织、不同方位、不同龄级年轮重金属含量差异及与交通量、关键气候因子的相关性。结果表明:树干木质部中各重金属平均含量由大到小依次为Zn、Cu、Cr、Mn、Ni、Pb、Cd,树皮中依次为Zn、Mn、Cr、Pb、Cu、Cd、Ni,树皮中各重金属元素的含量明显高于木质部;同一树干木质部中,各重金属元素在不同方位的分布有所差异,其中,靠近车道一侧的各重金属元素含量均高于背离车道一侧,南北向比较中,Ni、Zn为南侧含量高于北侧,其他5种重金属元素均为北侧高于南侧;以5a为一个龄级将年轮划分为5个龄组,各龄级年轮中重金属含量随时间的变化趋势各异,其中Pb、Cd、Cu、Zn总体呈递减趋势,且与年降水量、最低气温、日照时数、雨天日数和大风日数呈正相关趋势,与年平均气温和最高气温呈负相关趋势;各元素在毛白杨树干木质部中的积累量表现为ZnCrCuMnPbNiCd。     

Therapeutic Efficacy and Immunological Response of CCL5 Antagonists in Models of Contact Skin Reaction

Skin-infiltrating T-cells play a predominant role in allergic and inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and allergic contact dermatitis. These T-cells are attracted by several chemotactic factors including the chemokine CCL5/RANTES, a CC chemokine inducing both the migration and activation of specific leukocyte subsets. CCL5 has been found to be associated with various cell-mediated hypersensitive disorders such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis. We have used two antagonists, the first, Met-CCL5, a dual CCR1/CCR5 antagonist and the second, a variant in which GAG binding is abrogated, ⁴⁴AANA⁴⁷-CCL5, which acts as a dominant negative inhibitor of CCL5. The antagonists were tested in two models of contact skin reaction. The first, irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) is a pathological non-specific inflammatory skin condition arising from the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by keratinocytes in response to haptens, usually chemicals. The second, contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is a T-cell dependent model, mimicking in part the T-cell-mediated skin diseases such as psoriasis. In both models, the CCL5 antagonists showed therapeutic efficacy by reducing swelling by 50% as well as the reduction of soluble mediators in homogenates derived from challenged ears. These results demonstrate that blocking the receptor or the ligand are both effective strategies to inhibit skin inflammation.     

Heavy metal uptake capacity of fresh water algae (Oedogonium westti) from aqueous solution: A mesocosm research

The green macroalgae present in freshwater ecosystems have attracted a great attention of the world scientists for removal of heavy metals from wastewater. In this mesocosm study, the uptake rates of heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) by Oedogonium westi (O. westti) were measured. The equilibrium adsorption capabilities of O. westti were different for Cd, Ni, Cr, and Pb (0.974, 0.418, 0.620, and 0.261 mgg^–1, respectively) at 18°C and pH 5.0. Furthermore, the removal efficiencies for Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb were observed from 55–95%, 61–93%, 59–89%, and 61–96%, respectively. The highest removal efficiency was observed for Cd and Cr from aqueous solution at acidic pH and low initial metal concentrations. However, the removal efficiencies of Ni and Pb were higher at high pH and high concentrations of metals in aqueous solution. The results summarized that O. westti is a suitable candidate for removal of selected toxic heavy metals from the aqueous solutions.     

Health risk assessment of some heavy metals in urban community garden soils of Baghdad City,Iraq

The objective of this study is the evaluation of health risk of heavy metals in soils of urban community gardens of Baghdad City in Iraq. The soil samples were collected from 14 community gardens and analyzed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. The non-carcinogenic hazard index (HI) and carcinogenic risk index (RI) were utilized to evaluate human health risk of heavy metals. The health hazard evaluation showed that there is no non-carcinogenic hazard in light of the fact that the HI values were beneath the threshold value (HI < 1). The HI for children and adults has a descending order of Cd < Cr < Cu < Ni < Pb < Zn. The carcinogenic RI values for Cd, Cr and Ni were over the unacceptable threshold value (RI < 1 × 10^?4), demonstrating that there is a serious carcinogenic risk for children and adults in the study area. The carcinogenic RI for children and adults has a descending order of Cr < Cd < Ni. These findings give environment administrators and leaders data on whether therapeutic activities are required to decrease exposure.     

Pollution Assessment and Potential Sources of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soils around Four Pb/Zn Mines of Shaoguan City,China

A total of 455 agricultural soil samples from four nonferrous mines/smelting sites in Shaoguan City, China, were investigated for concentrations of 10 heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn). The mean concentrations of the metals were 72.4, 5.16, 13.3, 54.8, 84.5, 1.52, 425, 28.2, 529, and 722 mg kg^?1, respectively. The values for As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Zn were more than 8 and 1.5 times higher than their background values in this region and the limit values of Grade II soil quality standard in China, respectively. Estimated ecological risks based on contamination factors and potential ecological risk factors were also high or very high for As, Cd, Hg, and Pb. Multivariate analysis (Pearson's correlation analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and principal component analysis) strongly implied three distinct groups; i.e., As/Cu/Hg/Zn, Co/Cr/Mn/Ni, and Cd/Pb. Local anomalies for As, Cu, Hg, and Zn by a probably anthropogenic source (identified as mining activity), Co, Cr, Mn, and Ni by natural contribution, and a mixed source for Cd and Pb, were identified. This is one of the few studies with a focus on potential sources of heavy metals in agricultural topsoil around mining/smelting sites, providing evidence for establishing priorities in the reduction of ecological risks posed by heavy metals in Southern China and elsewhere.     

Assessment on Pollution by Heavy Metals and Arsenic Based on Surficial and Core Sediments in the Cam River Mouth,Haiphong Province,Vietnam

The Cam River mouth (Haiphong Province) is one of the main river mouths of the Red River System, which is one of the most important water resources in Northern Vietnam. Over the past 50 years, the strong socio-economic development in the area has caused a considerable contamination with heavy metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and arsenic. In this study, the vertical and horizontal distributions of heavy metals and arsenic in sediments from the Cam River mouth were investigated. In addition, the history, origin, and degree of contamination were assessed. Normalized (with respect to Al) heavy metal and arsenic concentrations in sediment cores and absolute dates obtained from the ¹³⁷Cs analysis were used to reconstruct the pollution history of the river mouth. As, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn concentrations increase rapidly by approximately two times or more from 1954 to 1975, and then remain nearly unchanged from 1975 until 2008, whereas Co, Cr, and Ni concentrations slightly increase from 1954 until 2008. In addition, background values for heavy metals and arsenic have also been determined with regard to the period before 1954. In the study area, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Mn, and Zn are evaluated as minorly enriched, whereas As and Pb are classified as moderately enriched. Generally, the anthropogenic activities in the Haiphong harbor and industrial zone locally contribute to the contamination by heavy metals and arsenic in the Cam River mouth.     

城市绿化树种香樟不同器官对土壤重金属的富集特征

为了了解不同土壤重金属浓度梯度及污染梯度下香樟不同器官的富集特征,测定了香樟树叶、树枝、树干和根际土壤中6种重金属元素(Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、Mn、Ni)的含量.结果表明: 香樟地上部分重金属含量因器官、元素种类、根际土壤重金属浓度的不同而存在差异.香樟树叶和树枝重金属含量的大小顺序均为:Mn＞Zn＞Cu＞Cr＞Pb＞Ni,树干重金属含量为:Mn＞Zn＞Cr＞Pb＞Ni＞Cu.树叶对Mn的富集系数较高,为2.409;树干对Ni的富集系数较高,分别为树叶、树枝的8.6和17倍,且在不同土壤重金属浓度梯度下,香樟树干对Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、Ni的富集系数均明显高于其他器官.香樟地上部分器官对Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、Mn、Ni 6种重金属元素的综合富集能力大小顺序为:树叶＞树干＞树枝.随着土壤重金属污染等级的增加,香樟地上部分各器官的富集系数均逐渐降低.研究区域平均胸径为22 cm的单株香樟对重金属元素富集效能的大小顺序为:树叶＞树干＞树枝,其中树干对Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、Ni的积累量均显著高于树叶和树枝.表明香樟对6种重金属元素均有一定的富集能力,并且树干对Pb和Ni的富集效能明显,分别占地上部分总积累量的82.7%和91.9%,能很好地富集并稳固土壤中的Pb和Ni,可作为修复治理土壤重金属污染的备选树种.     

Modulation of cutaneous inflammation by angiotensin-converting enzyme

Cutaneous neurogenic inflammation is a complex biological response of the host immune system to noxious stimuli. Present evidence suggests that zinc metalloproteases may play an important role in the regulation of neurogenic inflammation by controlling the local availability of neuropeptides, such as substance P (SP), that are capable of initiating or amplifying cutaneous inflammation after release from sensory nerves. To address the hypothesis that the dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is capable of modulating skin inflammation, we have analyzed murine allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) using wild-type C57BL/6J (ACE(+/+)) or genetically engineered mice with a heterozygous deletion of somatic ACE (ACE(+/-)). In 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene-sensitized ACE(+/-) mice, ACD was significantly augmented in comparison to ACE(+/+) controls as determined by the degree of ear swelling after exposure to hapten. Likewise, systemic treatment of ACE(+/+) mice with the ACE inhibitor captopril before sensitization or elicitation of ACD significantly augmented the ACD response. In contrast, local damage and neuropeptide depletion of sensory nerves following capsaicin, injection of a bradykinin B(2), or a SP receptor antagonist before sensitization significantly inhibited the augmented effector phase of ACD in mice with functionally absent ACE. However, in contrast to ACD, the response to the irritant croton oil was not significantly altered in ACE(+/-) compared with ACE(+/+) mice. Thus, ACE by degrading bradykinin and SP significantly controls cutaneous inflammatory responses to allergens but not to irritants, which may explain the frequently observed exacerbation of inflammatory skin disease in patients under medication with ACE inhibitors.     

Sources and Contamination of Heavy Metals in Sediments of Kabul River: The Role of Organic Matter in Metals Retention and Accumulation

In this study, sediment samples were collected from Kabul River (Pakistan) and analyzed for heavy metals including zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb). The physico-chemical characteristics were also determined which are known to influence the metal accumulation within the sediment matrix. Heavy metal concentrations (mg kg^?1, dry weight basis) in the sediment were in the order of Zn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd. Heavy metal concentrations were found in moderately polluted category set by U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). However, Cr and Ni concentrations exceeded the screening levels at the sites where a larger volume of industrial effluents enter into Kabul River. Higher concentrations of almost all the tested metals were detected at locations of greater industrial and sewage entry points. Sediment organic matter (OM) exhibited strong correlation with Pb (R² = 0.80), Ni (R² = 0.67) and Zn (R² = 0.46), indicating that OM plays a significant role in metal retention and accumulation. The findings of this study showed that Kabul River is reasonably contaminated with selected heavy metals released from anthropogenic sources. In the study area, sewage discharge was the major source of heavy metals including Zn and Pb, which were observed at locations where sewage effluents enter into the river.     

成都平原北部水稻土重金属含量状况及其潜在生态风险评价

为了解成都平原水稻土重金属含量状况和潜在的生态风险,选取成都平原北部水稻土典型区域为研究对象,采集了158个表层土壤样品,分析了土壤中pH值和Cd、Cu、As、Hg、Pb、Cr、Ni 7种重金属元素含量,以20世纪80年代测定的成都平原土壤重金属元素背景值为评价标准,采用Hakanson潜在生态危害指数法对研究区域的重金属潜在生态风险进行了评价。结果表明:研究区域水稻土Cd、Hg、Ni、Cu、Pb、Cr和As平均含量分别为0.709、0.187、32.08、34.12、31.52、82.13 mg/kg和7.25 mg/kg;Cd、Ni、Cu和Hg 4种重金属超过《土壤环境质量标准》(GB15618-1995) Ⅱ级标准值样本比例分别为87.34%、8.23%、3.80%和3.80%,Cd含量超标严重。7种重金属元素变异系数幅度为18.35%-49.03%,由大到小依次为Cd、Hg、Cu、As、Ni、Cr、Pb。75.32%的样本达到中度或较强重金属潜在生态风险,区域整体表现为中度潜在生态风险(RI平均值为198.65),Cd和Hg为高生态风险元素,对潜在生态风险贡献率分别为62.27%和20.78%,As、Pb、Cu、Ni、Cr为低生态风险元素;风险概率图显示城区周边和绵远河沿线的潜在生态风险等级较高。因此,成都平原水稻土农业生产中应采取一定的措施防控农产品Cd和Hg污染。     

Heavy metal contamination in water,soil, and milk of the industrial area adjacent to Swan River,Islamabad, Pakistan

Trace heavy metals such as Cr(III), Ni(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), and Cu(II) are hazardous pollutants and are rich in areas with high anthropogenic activities. Their concentrations were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy, and it was found that their concentrations were several fold higher in downstream Swan River water samples of the Kahuta Industrial Triangle as compared to upstream. Heavy metal soil concentrations taken from the downstream site were 149% for Cr, 131% for Ni, 176% for Cd, 139% for Zn, 224% for Pb, and 182% for Cu when compared to samples from the upstream site. Quantitative analysis concluded that these metals were higher in milk samples collected from downstream as compared to the samples from upstream water-irrigated sites. The order of metal in milk was as Zn > Cr > Cu > Cd > Pb = Ni. Heavy metal contaminations may affect the drinking water quality, food chain, and ecological environment. It was also suggested that the toxicity due to such polluted water, soil, and milk are seriously dangerous to human health in future.     

佛山城市典型森林群落土壤重金属分布、流通及枯落物富集特征

富集重金属的枯落物分解可能提高重金属暴露率,增加人体接触健康风险。为了解南方城市土壤重金属在森林生态系统中的分布及流转情况,通过调查研究了佛山市8个典型森林群落土壤及枯落物重金属含量,分析了各森林群落枯落物对不同重金属的富集效应及重金属随枯落物回归土壤流通量。结果表明：1）城市森林各土壤重金属含量在不同典型群落间差异显著（P<0.05）,差异最大为Pb、Cr、Zn,As、Cu、Ni次之,Hg、Cd最小;土层深度（0-20,20-40,40-60 cm）对重金属含量影响显著（P<0.05）,差异最大为Cd、Hg,其次为As、Cu,最小为Zn、Ni、Pb、Cr。整体上,Cd、Hg、As、Pb、Zn在0-20 cm最高,表层富集特征明显,Cr和Ni在40-60 cm最高。2）8个森林群落中阴香-白楸-醉香含笑群落（CMMC）枯落物对8种重金属的综合富集系数（TBCF,66.76）最高,其中以Cd的富集效果最突出,富集系数为44.45,且对Pb、Cu、Zn也相对富集;最低的为黧蒴锥-香椿-樟树群落（CTCC）,综合富集系数（TBCF）为8.09,仅对Cd、Cr、Cu相对富集,对其余重金属富集效应不明显。3）相关分析显示,群落重金属枯落物流通量与0-60 cm土壤重金属平均含量（Cr和Ni除外）无显著相关性。本研究对城市森林建设管理及筛选重金属富集植物及群落具有较强理论及实践意义。     

调水调沙工程黄河口近岸沉积物重金属和砷含量的空间分布及其生态风险评估

为了明确调水调沙工程长期影响下黄河口近岸沉积物中重金属含量的分布特征及其生态风险,基于2012年黄河口近岸27个站位的表层沉积物样品,通过ICP-MS测定重金属(Zn、Cr、Ni、Pb、Cu、Cd)和砷(As)含量,并运用潜在生态风险指数法(RI)对其进行生态风险评估。结果表明:近岸沉积物中重金属和As的平均含量表现为AsZnCrNiPbCuCd。Cr、Ni、Cu和Pb四种元素的分布规律较为一致,整体呈现出近岸和近黄河口高而远离河口和岸线低的空间分异特征。Ni、Cu、Pb、Zn与粘土均呈极显著或显著正相关(P0.01或P0.05),而Cd、Cr和As与其相关性均未达到显著水平(P0.05)。近岸沉积物中6种重金属和As的平均单项潜在生态风险指数大小顺序整体表现为CdAsNiPbCuCrZn。就潜在生态风险(RI)而言,研究区域18.52%的站位属轻微生态危害,70.07%的站位属中等生态危害,7.41%的站位属强生态危害,Cd和As是造成危害的两种主要元素。近岸沉积物中重金属和As的来源复杂且多样,主要是由于农业化肥使用、海上石油开采和泄漏、化石燃料燃烧以及河口污染物输入所致。对比研究发现,随着调水调沙工程的长期实施,除Cd和As外沉积物中其他重金属含量均呈下降趋势,说明二者的生态风险将会随调水调沙的长期实施呈增加趋势,而其他重金属的生态风险将呈降低趋势,故未来应重点关注近岸沉积物中Cd和As的生态毒理风险。     

Source apportionment and health risk assessment of heavy metals in agricultural soils in Xinglonggang,Northeastern China

Heavy metals in soil can affect human health through the exposure pathways of oral ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation. In this study, to assess the health risk of heavy metals in the agricultural area of Xinglonggang, 52 soil samples were collected and tested to obtain the concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn in the soil. The enrichment factor indicated that the heavy metals of the agricultural soils were enriched, but the degree of enrichment was mild for all of the heavy metals. Coefficient analysis and principal component analysis indicated that V, Cr, Ni, and Pb were mainly from natural sources, As was from irrigation, Cu and Cd tended to be from chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and Zn was from mixed sources including irrigation, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides. A human-health risk assessment indicated that the residents in the study area face high risk from carcinogens and low risk from noncarcinogens; As and Cr are the major heavy metals affecting human health. This study provides a reference and a basis for formulating effective measures to prevent and control heavy metal enrichment in agricultural soils.     

Hazardous metals levels in groundwater from Gokana,Rivers State,Nigeria: Non-cancer and cancer health risk assessment

This study investigated heavy metals concentration in groundwater in six coastal communities in Gokana, Rivers State, namely, Gbe, K-Dere, B-Dere, Mogho, Kpor and Bodo City and the human health risk posed to the local populace via ingestion and dermal contact using non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risk assessment. The mean values of the heavy metals ranged between 0.02–0.86, 0.16–0.19, 0.03–0.10, 0.02–0.03 and 0.01–0.17 for Mn, Ni, Pb, Cd and Cr, respectively. The heavy metals were above the drinking water quality recommended limits in all the study sites. Estimations of average daily dose (ADD) and dermal absorbed dose (DAD) health risk indicates that Mn, Ni and Pb posed human health risk via ingestion contact pathway. However, hazard index (HI) values of Cd and Cr for ingestion pathway were >1.0 and the estimated Lifetime of Carcinogenic Risks (LTCR) for Ni, Cd and Cr exceeded the predicted lifetime risk for carcinogens of 10^?6 from ingestion pathway. Furthermore, there were more appreciable risk from Ni and Cr in the study sites as LTCR value in most sites were >10^?4_. This study indicates possible non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic human health hazard from groundwater consumption in Gokana via oral ingestion.     

Sources and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal(loid)s in Agricultural Soils of Huzhou,China

To identify sources of heavy metal(loid) (HM) contamination in agricultural soils of Huzhou, surface soil samples were sampled from 89 different agricultural regions in 2012. Concentrations of heavy metal(loid)s, along with pH, total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and soil organic matter (SOM), were determined. Ecological risk was then assessed using a modified Hakanson ecological risk index, and the sources of contamination were determined using principal component analysis (PCA). Mean concentrations of heavy metal(loid)s were 10.26, 23.21, 83.75, 22.81, 0.25, 61.86, 33.03, and 0.15 mg kg^?1 for As, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Hg, respectively. Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, Cd, Hg, and Pb were correlated positively with TP and there were obvious positive correlations among Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, and Cd. Risk index (RI) values varied from 39 to 1246 with a mean value of 137. Enrichment of Pb, Zn, Cu, and especially Cd can be attributed to excessive use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers containing heavy metals, as well to surface irrigation and natural soil formation. While the ecological risk of most agricultural soils in Huzhou is low, it is recommended that the use of phosphate and nitrogen fertilizers be restricted and production technology be improved to reduce the heavy metal(loid) concentrations. Results suggest that the Chinese environmental quality standard for soil should be revised to better address heavy metal(loid) contamination.